This Book Will Change How You Write. It might Even Change your Life.

2. Write for yourself.

Writing is deeply personal—and the truth is, this business changes faster than you can keep up with the trends, so don't even try. By the time you finish your vampire story, vampire stories will be out and Elf stories will be cool again.

3. Write what you want to read.

Maybe you spent months grueling over your manuscript and only your mother buys a copy. Two hundred query letters later, your cousin now has a copy. So what—if when you read your own story, it keeps you up into the wee hours of the morning, and it is the best story you have ever read, don't you think it was worthwhile?

“If there's a book that you want to read, but it hasn't been written yet, then you must write it.” -Toni Morrison

4. Understanding how to create a plot is simple.

Every story ever told has a beginning, a middle, and an end. Every story has a conflict and a resolution. It's the foundation of a building; lay a solid foundation and you then have the freedom to tell whatever story you like.

Source

5.The audience wants to feel something.

The audience is investing time in your story because they want to feel what it's like to feel loss, to love, to be betrayed, to conquer their fears, to overcome a trial, to start over, to be a spy, to be a dancer, to be a crime boss—whatever it is, make sure they feel it.

6. Its all about desire.

Every character, behind every minute action and word, wants something. Find out what it is and tell a story about it.

7. Conflict is everything.

There is no such thing as a story without a conflict. Our whole world is in conflict and your story is an act of war.

A Book every Writer Should Read, then Reread, then Read again.

8. There is nothing new under the sun.

A corrupt cop, a bored housewife, an artist lured away by the cruel mistress of fame: it's all been told. In fact, all stories derive off of a simple set of archetypes. If a story feels familiar, it's because it is.

As humans, whether we want to admit it or not, we are all very similar and want similar things. Storytelling is really an intricate act of recycling.

9. Goal #1: Trap the rat!

Your goal, as a storyteller, is to hand your poor little protagonist a conflict, then heap every obstacle in front of him, until it looks like there is no hope whatsoever. Corner him like a rat, watch him squeal, watch him cower—and don't ever hand him a life raft. Nope, make him build his own.

10. Every chapter, every paragraph, and every word should ooze with tension.

Just having a 3 point conflict plot structure isn't enough, every word needs to move the story towards the climax. Tension is the coal being shoveled into the engine—it is the energy that moves the story forward. No coal=no movement=no story.

11. “I write to give myself strength. I write to be the characters that I am not. I write to explore all the things I'm afraid of. ” - Joss Whedon

12. Let the characters tell the story.

A plot can point you towards a target, but the real motion of the story belongs in the hands of the characters. They will tell you where they want to go, even if you have to drag them kicking and screaming.

13. Drop your character into a conflict.

A game I used to love to play was Roller Coaster Tycoon. Within the game, you could pick up any of the visitors to the theme park and drop them anywhere you wanted. They could be named, and they each had different personalities and ride preferences. You'd pick one up with a giant claw and drop them in front of a roller coaster; one would jump for joy, while another would throw up, keep walking, and get in line for the ferris wheel.

That is what you must do with your characters, take the giant claw and pick up a plumber from Montana, drop him in the Big Apple, and see what he does with it. Take an ordinary character and drop him or her into an extraordinary or unlikely situation, then watch them squirm.

14. Words have power.

"I have a dream," "For God so loved the world," "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal," "The bombs bursting in air, gave proof through the night, that our flag was still there," "Houston, we've landed."

Words have the power to give life, to end a war, to fight for freedom, and to trample injustice. They can hold a whole country in the palm of their hand and they can echo back across the span of centuries. Don't ever underestimated the power and privilege you have as a writer.

Comments

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lex123 2 years ago

Interesting thoughts on writing. Now I am going to Part 2. Voted up.

Author

Jennifer Arnett 3 years agofrom California

Thanks Mark. I've now posted 5 articles in this series. I hope that they were profitable to you.

Mark Johann 3 years agofrom Italy

I agree that words are energy and power. Please post more article like this. I think everyone knows how to write but with your help we can be better. What is your best article for authors?

Patricia Scott 3 years agofrom sunny Florida

The way you present a snapshot of each part of writing summarizes it so that we are at the heart and soul of writing.

As I read each one I would go 'check' if I did it and question myself if I did not. I do not write much fiction but am considering delving more into that area.

Angels are on the way to you this morning. ps

Voted up+++ g+ tweeted and shared

Author

Jennifer Arnett 3 years agofrom California

Thanks Mary, I'm glad you found it helpful. Your encouragement and the feedback from other readers has fueled me forward.

Author

Jennifer Arnett 3 years agofrom California

RTalloni, your very welcome, I'm glad you enjoyed it. Yes, it is a very joyful experience.

Author

Jennifer Arnett 3 years agofrom California

Thanks Ann. Good luck with that competition. I hope you win and get to share your story with us.

Author

Jennifer Arnett 3 years agofrom California

Mizbejabbers, that's very interesting that you like reading something that you don't feel capable of writing. I'm trying to wrap my head around that. In our writing, we take from the things that we have read and seen. At this point, I would struggle to write sci-fi because I don't read enough of it to understand the genre.

Historical fiction isn't for the faint of heart. That is one tough genre! That's incredible that you have a gift for it. All of the detail involved is incredible intricate.

Author

Jennifer Arnett 3 years agofrom California

Thanks Ghaelach. A cup of tea and a hub is a fine way to spend a morning.

Mary Craig 3 years agofrom New York

You have provided more than food for thought, you have provided a banquet! This could be chapter one of the writer's bible.

You descriptions, quotes, everything make this a must read for every writer.

Voted up, useful, awesome, interesting, and shared.

RTalloni 3 years agofrom the short journey

Thanks for some good food for thought to ponder. This intricate act of recycling, as you put it so well, is a joyful exercise to those who love weaving words together.

Ann Carr 3 years agofrom SW England

Great hub, Jennifer, full of sound advice. I'm in the process of writing a short story for a competition and you've reminded me of a few pertinent things, so thanks for that.

Your writing is spot on and therefore so is your advice. Experience and practice say a lot.

Happy new year!

Ann

Doris James-MizBejabbers 3 years ago

I can follow most of your advice in my writing, but I have to admit that I'm not capable of writing in the genre that I love to read. Perhaps that is why my favorite genre is scifi-fantasy. It takes me to a world that I can't live in. I can write in my second favorite, historical fiction, so I think I'll stick to that. I'll be waiting for part 2.

Ghaelach 3 years ago

Afternoon Jen.

I've got to sit back for a while and digest what you have written here in part one, but I'm thinking it will all come together when I read part two.

You've written a lot of interesting fact, so I'll have to make a nice cup of tea (hate coffee) and get my thinking head on and go sit in a quiet corner.

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